Israel has put plans for a ground operation in Gaza "on hold" to give talks to secure a truce with Hamas militants a chance, officials say.

It is understood Israel has set a Thursday deadline for the Egypt-brokered talks to succeed.

The conflict began last Wednesday when Israel killed a top Hamas military commander, saying it wanted to end rocket attacks on its soil.

More than 110 Palestinians and three Israelis have been killed so far.

Tuesday has seen a reduced level of violence, correspondents say, even though Israel has conducted some strikes - one was a "direct hit" on two militants in northern Gaza, the Israeli military said.

And rockets have been fired towards Israel - mainly targeting the south. However, two landed in an open area near Jerusalem, causing no injuries or damage.

Talk of war

Officials are due to restart talks in Cairo, and Egyptian officials have told the BBC there are signs of progress.

Media captionUN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon: "Families and children are dying as a result of senseless violence''

Israeli troops are massed along the border, raising fears of a ground offensive similar to that of 2008-09.

An Israeli spokesman told the BBC: "Israel wants talks to succeed but we're prepared to go into Gaza".

In a rare appearance, top Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif said Palestinians should prepare for a ground offensive, but warned: "The enemy will pay a heavy price if it thinks of entering Gaza."

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due in Israel for crisis talks.

Mrs Clinton was going to underline that "the best way to solve this is through diplomacy, so that you have a peaceful settlement that ends that rocket fire and allows for a broader calm in the region", said Mr Obama's Deputy National Security Adviser, Ben Rhodes.

Israeli public support, could soon dry up if a ground invasion of Gaza took place

"There is no military solution to the conflict in Gaza," UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said.

The content of the Egyptian plan is not known, but both Israel and Hamas have presented conditions.

Israel's demands include no hostile fire of any kind from Gaza and international efforts to prevent Hamas from rearming, while Hamas is demanding an end to the blockade on Gaza and "Israel's assassinations".

Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, a year after winning a decisive victory in general elections. Israel withdrew from the strip in 2005 but maintains a blockade.

Israel, as well as the United States and the European Union, regards Hamas as a terrorist organisation.